Want Peace? Democratize Jordan

I have not been a fan of the "Jordan is Palestine" option, however it was defined, because it required the consent of King Abdullah. I preferred a unilateral, made in Israel solution.But that was then and this is now.

Mudar Zahran, a Jordanian Palestinian exiled in London, has been communicating with me about his desire and ability to form a secular democratic government in Jordan, should fair elections take place. He is seeking my help in getting the US government to influence King Abdullah to democratize and in getting Israel to embrace the change.

Why me, and how I plan to go about achieving this will be the subject of another article. But first I would like to say why I am so excited about this possibility.

Zahran advises that the Palestinians represent a large majority of all residents of Jordan and they are trending secular and are anti the Muslim Brotherhood, King Abdullah and Mahmud Abbas. They are tired of waiting for a peace deal to emerge from the process, isn't waiting 60 years enough, and want to take their destiny in their own hands.

They envisage a demilitarized state which is a protectorate of Israel and the US. They want full normalization and full economic relations with Israel. They want the money otherwise spent on maintaining an army to be invested in building up the country.

They have agreed to invite all Palestinians to move to Jordan and receive full citizenship. In effect, Jordan would become Palestine, which it was once part of according to the San Remo Resolution and the Palestine Mandate. It would mean that UNWRA would be wound up and that the West could transfer its economic assistance from the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria to the Palestinians in Jordan. The money would no longer be going down the drain in Judea and Samaria or into the pockets of the corrupt few, but instead would be used to build a stable Palestinian state in Jordan. Financial incentives would be provided to all Palestinians to move to Jordan.

It would mean the end of the Oslo Accords and the PA. Israel would then exercise sovereignty of Judea and Samaria. It would truly usher in the New Middle East.

It is truly, "a consummation, devoutly to be wished."

I have not been a fan of the "Jordan is Palestine" option, however it was defined, because it required the consent of King Abdullah. I preferred a unilateral, made in Israel solution.

But that was then and this is now.

Mudar Zahran, a Jordanian Palestinian exiled in London, has been communicating with me about his desire and ability to form a secular democratic government in Jordan, should fair elections take place. He is seeking my help in getting the US government to influence King Abdullah to democratize and in getting Israel to embrace the change.

Why me, and how I plan to go about achieving this will be the subject of another article. But first I would like to say why I am so excited about this possibility.

Zahran advises that the Palestinians represent a large majority of all residents of Jordan and they are trending secular and are anti the Muslim Brotherhood, King Abdullah and Mahmud Abbas. They are tired of waiting for a peace deal to emerge from the process, isn't waiting 60 years enough, and want to take their destiny in their own hands.

They envisage a demilitarized state which is a protectorate of Israel and the US. They want full normalization and full economic relations with Israel. They want the money otherwise spent on maintaining an army to be invested in building up the country.

They have agreed to invite all Palestinians to move to Jordan and receive full citizenship. In effect, Jordan would become Palestine, which it was once part of according to the San Remo Resolution and the Palestine Mandate. It would mean that UNWRA would be wound up and that the West could transfer its economic assistance from the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria to the Palestinians in Jordan. The money would no longer be going down the drain in Judea and Samaria or into the pockets of the corrupt few, but instead would be used to build a stable Palestinian state in Jordan. Financial incentives would be provided to all Palestinians to move to Jordan.

It would mean the end of the Oslo Accords and the PA. Israel would then exercise sovereignty of Judea and Samaria. It would truly usher in the New Middle East.